Sanitary container for napkins



Feb. 10, 1931. A, GRQFF 1,792,087

SANITARY CONTAINER FOR NAPKINS Filed March 6, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 We ZM Feb. 10, 1931. A. GRoFF SANITARY CONTANER FOR NAPKINS Filed March 6, 1926 2 sheets-sheet 2 'Patented Feb, .10, 1931 lA 'Aiaon eRoFr, or sT. PAUL; mNNnsofrA, Assleiqon To Venormi* PAYER sfr, rAUnirrNNnsoTa-f A cosroan'rion or mmnnsoraj i -sANnrARY CONTAINER non iniririits @encanta medi/talen' niet. sensi N'of 92,717."

This inventionrelate's t af container' for folded napkins or siniilar' A,isle well known, paper napkins are now` v used in" immense numbers in public and4 domestic'V napkins for' distribution andto have'l them' in` this` foldedcondition accessibleto the" users.

if such napkins arejplacedjin an open container, they qiiickly': accumulate dust and dirt `and becoineunsanitary.- It is desirable', therefore, and'y requiredA in some' places, to have Vthe rnapkins disposed in a closedcon'- tainer. It isalso desirable to haveV such a' container; fromy which the' napkins cani be quicklyand easily reinovedjone at altiin'e'.

It is an objectV of this invntion, therefore, to provideaY container for folded paper napkins which is sanitary and simplein con-y struction' and which holds'a napkin'iniposi tion for easy removal; Y

It is a further object' ofthe inventio'nlto" provide such acontainer preferably yshap'd substantially to hold a'v napkin, `which cony tainer'has an openingat one side'with ineensA adjacent the sanie'for holding the'napkinsin" fanges adjacent said opening'said casingrv also having means disposed'inwardlyfof said flanges forengag'ing an' edge of the folded napkin and adapted to cause one freefedge of a napkin to project outwardly,

These and Vother objects and advantages .of

the ,invention willbe fully set forth inthe' following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhioh' like referencev characters referto, similar ,parts throughout the" several views' and"V in which z-j view in fronti elevation of thedeyic'e, certain:` parts being :broken away and COMPANY, or'

Fig. 2 isla" vertical section takenon" line" 2L2, ofV Fi'g`. .1' as indicated by the a rrowsj` i Bjisapartialview in front elevation. ofthe bottoni portion of' one sidefof the de"- Y1Ce-5b f i i y. i

.Fig 411s' a`p'art1a1 v`iew similar to Fig.V 2,

showf ori-an enlarged scale;`

igl :5' isa horizontal sectiontakenlonline -'of F ig.' 4' as indicated the arrows,

Fig 6` isa vertical section' taken on fline 6-6 of Fig. 4 asindicated by the: arrows;

` igj?. its afhorizontal section takenV on linel 7-7 ofgFig, 1V as indicated by the arrowsgj Fig. :8 isafview ini front elevation showing a modi'edf'form of the device; Y i i `9 isa vertical! sectionY taken' on line 9 9 of FigfS as indicatedby the arrowsf Fig' is a. View infrontvelevation of a further modified" form of the' device; i y1 1 is a horizontalsection taken on' line 1"1`- 1l`of`Fig. I0 as indicated bythe ar rows,andv

Fig. l2`i`s aviewA as usedinthe'device. j Referring to ,the drawings," particularly Fignresbltoi, a device is showncomprisi'ng a casinghaving the side portions l5 extending at'a'n rangle to each other andconverging toward' their" upper" ends." While( these por` tions nnay be variously formed, in the'einbodiinentv of the' invention illustrated, they areshownjas formed from a thin plate bent to forni'thje sides 15havin`g the top portion 15j@ connecting said sides. The sides 15 have rightan'g'le tfOrInL the flanges 15b at one end of the ca singll Thefflanges 15b as shown tin'lii'g'. l nieet at their top portions'and then have their -out'er longitudinal edges diverg-` ing' downwardly, thev lower ends of said flanges' carving` tosnbstantially no width. The anfggleV between the' sides 1'5 and the edges of the flanges lbis substantially the same as theangle' between the' sides and edges of a folded napkin'sothat the napkin N substan-l tia'llyn'ts inthe'casing;y The end of the cas# ing is'pen between the edgesiof a'ngesl'.

a' folded' napkin such lett The sides 15 have their outer edges 150 at one side thereof reversely curved to form grooves 15d for a purpose to be later described. Angle plates 21 are secured to the flanges 15b and have one of their sides 21a overlapping the sides 15 and spaced therefrom thus forming a groove or channel 15e between said angle bars and sides 15. The grooves 15e are thus alined with the grooves 15d and members 22 of sheet material can be disposed with their edges in each groove and lie against the outer surfaces of the sides 15. These members 22 may be cards hav-A ing pictures or other ornamentation thereon, or cards having advertising matter thereon. Said cards preferably will be held in their proper position by small tongues or clips 22a secured at the bottom of sides 15 and substantially centrally thereof. The end of the vcasing opposite that having` flanges 15b is formed by a removable plate 16 of substantially7 triangular shape, having a lower por tion 16a reduced in width which fits in a recess 17 formed between the bottom 18 of the casing and a strip 19 which extends about and is secured to the sides of said bottom. The strip 19 is bent out at the one side of bottom 18 as shown at 19a to form the recess 17. The plate 16 has horizontal edges adjacent the ends of portion J which rest on the strip 19. The upper end of plate 16 is held in the rear of acatch 20 which catch has a vertical `shoulder 20a adapted to engage the outer side of the plate 16. The catch 2O is formed on the end of top plate 205 of the casing which overlaps the top portion 15a of the plate forming the sides 15. The plate 20?) is secured by the headed and nutted bolts 20c and is made of resilient material so the catch 20 can be lifted when desired. The plate 16 as shown in Fig. 5 has angles 21d at each side the flanges 21e of which overlap the portions 150 at the edges of sides 15. The plate 16 also carries at its lateral center and slightly below its vertical center, a coiled compressionspring23. Spring23-as shown in Fig. 2 is conical in shape and has'its smaller end secured to plate 16 by a' headed and nutted bolt 23a. The larger and free end of spring 23 engages the rearmost one of the napkins N. plate 24 is secured in the bottom member 18 and upstands therefrom a short distance, which plate is located a short distance inwardly of the plane of flanges 15?)V and the lower edge of the outermost naplgips N, engages the plate 24. The bottom member 18 is secured to a platev 25, which plate has a depending stem 25a adapted to be received in a cylindrical hole in a base member 26 having a central flange on top of which plate 25 rests. n

ln operation the device will be disposed on a table or other suitable place where the napkins are to be dispensed. The plate 16 will be removed by lifting the catch 2O swinging the top end of said plate outwardly then lifting said plate from the passage 17. The spring 28 is removed with said plate. A stock of napkins N are then placed in the container. The napkin used with the container is shown in Fig. 12 and said napkins will be placed with their ends N1 downward and resting on the bottom member 18. The plate 16 will now be again placed in position, its

lower portion 16a being inserted in groove 17 P and the top end swung inwardly until it snaps back of the shoulder 20a. The spring 23 will be somewhat compressed and will push the napkins toward the end of the casing having flanges 15b. The outermost napkinwillbe pushed against the flanges 15b and against the plate 24 at the bottom. Gwing to the factv that `plate .24; is disposed inwardly of flanges 15?) the free folded over corner N2 of the napkin springs out as shown in Fig. 2. Then the user wishes a napkin, he needs simply take hold of the flap or portion N2 and withdraws the napkin from the container through the opening between flanges 155. The napkin being of soft, flexible material, is easily withdrawn. When the napkin is so withdrawn, the spring 23 pushes the pack of napkins forwardly and the endmost napkin is immediately placed in position for removal.` As stated, the cards 22 can readily be placed over the sides 15, which cards will carry ornamental or adver tising matter. The casing containing the napkins can readily be revolved on the plate 25 so that napkins may be withdrawn from various sides of a table. Y

In Fig. 8 a modified form of the device is shown, in which the casing comprising the sides 15, 16 and the bottom member 18, is disposedwith its narrow end downwardly. rlhe casing is in all respects similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 7 except that the top plate 206 will have a plate 27 secured thereto by th, headed and nutted bolt-s 20c, which plate 27 will carry a stem 27a received in and revoluble in a bore in the base member 28. The plate 27 is of the same width as the sides 15 and as shown in Fig. 8 is slightly turned up at its outer end. The plate 24; shown in Figs. 1 and 2 will also be omitted and in place thereof a tongue 29 will be carried in the member 18 and will project downwardly over the top edge of the napkin a short distance inwardly of the plane of the flanges 15b.

In operation of the device shown in Fig. 8

the napkins will be inserted in the manner already described and the endmost napkin will be pushed forwardly against the flanges 15b. The member 29 engaging the top edge of the napkin causes the flap N2 to spring outwardly so that it can readily be engaged by the customer and the napkin pulled from the casing. rlhe plate 27 is provided to carry some usual table accessory such as a salt or pepper shaker.

mcafee? on the other portions but .is left projecting as indicated by the dotted lines N c in Fig. l2. The casingwill be formed as described in connection with Figs. lto 7 except that instead 'of the flanges 15b, flanges 30 and 31 will be provided, the latter of'which is of shorter length, leaving a portion of the casing open at its side.'` Flanges 32 will also be provided extending alongrthe top side of the casing, it being` noted that-the casing is shaped substantially to fit the shape of the napkin used. A plate 33 is disposed between the ends of flange 32 and flange 3l, which plate as shown in Fig. 1l is disposed somewhat inwardly of the plane of flanges 30, 31 and 32.

In operation the napkins will be placed in the casing as already described and will be pushed forwardly by the' spring 34 against the flanges 30, 31 and 32 and one edge of the napkins will be engaged by the plate 33. lThis plate being somewhat inwardly of fia-nge3l and just above the corner of one of the folded over side portions of a napkin, said corner. will tend to spring outwardly and this corner' may readily be engaged bythe user to withdraw the napkin from the casing. It is not necessary, however, for the customer to .take hold of said corner as he'can readily take hold of the napkin by placing his linger within thetop edges Na of thegfoldedoverside portionsY of a napkin, both of these side portions in Fig. l() being shownas folded inwardly at the same side of the napkin. The form of napkin usedin'F-ig. l0 is now quite' commonly used and is generally referred to as the V-shaped fold. The napkins are usually square and are first folded successively along their central lines into quarter fold shape. They are then folded along lines passing through one corner of the quarter fold and` inclined at about 30 degrees to the adjacent side ofthe napkin, thus the folded shape shown in Fig. 10.

From the above description it is seen `that applicant has provided a very simple, efficient and sanitary container forfolded napkins or similar-articles.` The casing is quite simple in construction and easily made from givin g simple materials. The napkins are substantially covered and protected from dust and dirt. The device always presents one napkin in position to'be easily and quickly removed and it will be noted that only one napkin will be removed at `a time. Where the folded napkins are placedV in an open top container, the user often withdraws two or more napkins at a time, thus causing unnecessary waste. In the present device only one napkin will be engaged and'withdrawn. The device is of a size to be conveniently placed in the center of a lunch or dining table such as use d in restaurants or placed on a lunch counter-,where the' patronsl may quickly se-1 cure the napkins. The ldevice has been amply.

demonstrated in actual'practice and foundto be rvery successful and efficient.

It will, ofcourse, beunderstood thatfvarir ous changes may-bemade in the form, details, Y

proportions and arrangement of' thej parts,

Without?departingffrom the scope of applicantfs invention, which, generally stated', vcon-z y siste-in afdevice''capableY of carrying outthe objects above set 1 forth, in thenovel parts and combinationsof'parts disclosed an'd'delined inthe appended claims.

TWhat is claimed isi` A l. A container for holding napkins which have been yfolded into four-ply quarter-fold shape and then had triangular side portions folded over on the central portion to form a V -shaped article, and then had theA corner thereof folded inwardly to form a triangularshaped article, having in combination, a base, a container of triangular shape in cross section having sides inclined to the vertical and being disposed substantially at the same angle as that between the edges of said folded napkins, said casing having a side disposed paral-V Y lel to the flat side of said folded napkins and having an open front end with flanges projecting inwardly .from Ythe inclined sides thereof extending a short distance beyond the edges of said napkin, means engaging said napkins-iat the side extending between said inclined sides, said means being disposed.

inwardly of the plane of said flanges and means pushing said napkinsv Etoward said last mentioned means engaging one of said napkins over a comparatively small area and out of horizontal alignment with said means whereby the napkins are flexed adjacent said first mentioned means and the folded over corner of the endmost napkin is projected forwardly at said Vopen end and may be readily engaged to withdraw the endmost napkin.

2. A container for holding napkins which have been folded intofour-ply quarter-fold shape, then had triangular side portions folded over onto the central portion to form a V- shaped article and then had the corner at onel end of said article folded-inwardly to form a triangular shaped article having in combination, a base, a container of triangular shape in vertical cross section having sides extending upwardly from said base and disposed substantially at the same Vangle as that between the long edges of said article, one

lill) side of said container being substantially horizontal and parallel to the short edge of said triangular shaped article, said container having an end which can be removed to place articles in said container and having an open end with flanges projecting inwardly from the upwardly extending edges thereof and extending a short distance over the endmost napkin disposed in said container, a lug at the horizontal edge of said open end proago' jeeting toward the opening therein and having a portion disposedvquite a distance inwardly of the .pla-ne of said flanges for engaging the short side of said triangular.

.shaped article and means pushing said articles toward said open end disposed out of horizontal alignment with said lugs thus exing said articles adjacent said lug and causing said corner of the endniost napkin +o spring forwardly at the open end of said container whereby the same may be engaged to withdraw said endmost napkin.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature.

AARON GROFF. 

